100 Questions for God

INTRODUCTION

The concept of God permeating our modern society is driven by thousands of years of history and indoctrination. Based on a quick straw poll, God is supposedly:

a) Male

b) A singular sensation (i.e. there’s no second in command)

c) Omnipresent

d) The creator of the universe

e) Straight

f) Unimpressed with people who fail to recognize his magnificence

g) Quite partial to being worshipped

It’s possible all of this is true. It’s possible some or all of it is not.

The goal of this book is not to denounce anyone’s perspective or suggest that I (or anyone) have all of the answers. However, it does aim to provide a semi-reasoned contemplation of what or who God might be, and any values resulting from this.

The original working title of this book was My God! as I felt there was an opportunity to present a different take on the God portrayed by the three key monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and arguably reinforced by the Torah, Bible and Koran. That God would require me to reflect on my own personal values, and have:

1) A belief all humans are created equal

2) A commitment to free will

3) Integrity

4) A better personality than a petulant Hollywood starlet

5) Perfection (or a close approximation)

6) Some deep, well considered thoughts about life, the universe and everything

7) A sense of humor

While I will argue all of these attributes are essential for any deity worthy of our respect, this is not about creating a God – it’s a reinterpretation. God has suffered mightily at the hands of humans (and probably men in particular). From the moment someone contemplated or assumed there must be something greater than themselves, individuals have chosen to speak or write on behalf of God. Unfortunately, many of these representations on behalf of the almighty:

a) Reflect the morals, knowledge and beliefs of their time

b) Present the reporter as the recorder or interpreter of God’s words (with some very poor note taking)

c) Make God look like a bit of a bastard

Huge amounts of good and bad are performed in the name of God. On numerous occasions, God has been modified to serve the goals of individuals or groups without much thought for what God would really look like or want. Amazingly, some beliefs have not updated their view of God over time. It’s important to recognize a changing perspective on God reflects a change in OUR understanding of God, not necessarily a change in God.

While I do wish to defend God, and present the All Powerful in a better light, I can comfortably admit the content of this book:

1) Is not based on an authorized interview.

2) Has not been checked for accuracy by the Omnipotent One.

3) Was not carried to me by angels or delivered to me in a vision.

It may be appropriate to consider this God’s unauthorized biography, written to set the record straight, by an associate (or hanger-on) who feels there’s been misrepresentation in the media. I can’t guarantee everything will be 100% accurate, but I’ll do my best and you can judge the results yourself.

Finally, before embarking on this journey with me, you should be aware this book is a mix of logic, common sense, personal opinion and pathetic attempts at humor. If you don’t feel one or any of these should be applied to a discussion of God, you may want to read something else.

Ultimately, this book is about finding my God; it may or may not be about finding yours. If you’re not open to contemplating a God potentially different to your current perceptions, put this book down and accidentally knock it into the nearest trash can.

I hope this book is the beginning of the discussion, not the end. Any reasoned critiques and perspectives are welcomed with open arms - any rants, unreasoned vitriol or sledging should probably be saved for someone who would care. Future editions will include copious references to religious texts and changes due to intelligently presented feedback, debate, corrections and ongoing introspection.

PART ONE: GETTING THE JOB

THE NATURE OF GOD

Question 1: How do you become God?

Before we can have any decent discussion of God’s existence, looks or preferred football team, it’s essential to understand what qualifies someone/something to be God. While it’s probably not a role you fill out a job application for, it might be worth considering the basic requirements.

Prior to delving into this in more detail, it’s always important to start at the wellspring of all-important cultural perspective – Hollywood. If this knowledge distillery is to be believed, primitive tribes will appoint you their God if:

a) You have a fire stick that goes bang bang

b) Can hide the sun if the tribe is disbelieving

c) You have a couple of cool magic tricks

d) Someone important in the tribe believes your arrival has been prophesized

Breaking this down into its smallest parts, you have to be smarter or more technologically advanced, more powerful (or perceived as such), be able to perform miracles and have the power of myth on your side.

Although I don’t consider myself part of a primitive tribe, some of these elements do seem to resonate with the job criteria. However, I’m relatively confident if aliens landed tomorrow:

1) I’d regard them as aliens.

2) Some group of humans would regard them as Gods.

This vaguely pessimistic perspective on human nature cuts to the core of the search for God – God isn’t God because some humans perceive this to be the case. To truly qualify for the job you have to be able to show the skills, experience and aptitude for the role.

So what is the difference between an advanced life form and God arriving on the planet?

a) Different luggage?

b) Attitude?

c) More people being smited than usual?

Luggage is probably not the key differentiator. However, it would get more interesting if the visitor claimed to be God, and less so if it was smiting people left, right and center - particularly if I were one of the smited.

This brings me to the essence of my God. I’m not even going to open the floor to discussion for the first three prerequisites:

1) Integrity

2) Intellect

3) Indestructibility

Many of you may be shaking your head in silent disbelief – I hear you¹. However, we’ll discuss some other criteria like omnipotence, omnipresence, creating the universe, and a predisposition for footbaths later in this wealth of contemplation.

As mentioned earlier, my use of the 3I Index² to qualify my God in no way increases the likelihood of me being right, God existing, or me winning the lottery. However, here’s my reasoning:

Integrity – originally it was Goodness but it didn’t start with I and seemed a little pathetic. Integrity has, well, … integrity. If you’re a devil worshipper or megalomaniac you may feel integrity is highly over-rated. I do not. Even if God met all of the other potential criteria (yours or mine) I simply couldn’t respect a God who was a fan of dishonesty, murder, rape, theft or the kid who stole my favorite teddy bear in fifth grade³.

My God has integrity.

My God believes living a good life has intrinsic value. If my God were in charge it would be a little disappointed in the intolerance of many of God’s supporters – I’d like to believe God can recognize goodness and integrity regardless of its source. In addition, my God would have reverence for questions, questioning and the pursuit of one’s own personal connection to their God.

Intellect – originally it was Knowledge but it didn’t start with I and seemed a little inadequate. Intellect implies the ability to apply the knowledge available. It’s not much use if you know everything but can’t apply it to anything or perceive its value. Let’s face it, if God is having trouble pulling a few syllables together, it’s highly unlikely the universe is going to be functioning without a hitch.

Having intellect is one thing, magnitude is another – when it comes to my God’s intellect there are two major pre-requisites:

a) God has to be smarter than me.

b) God has to be smarter than everyone else.

People who know me may argue that I feel these two items can be distilled to God has to be smarter than me. This is irrelevant. If God isn’t the intellectual leader in the universe, several things become apparent:

1) God’s current job performance seems commendable.

2) There may be other candidates available to fill the role.

3) The whole place could implode upon itself at any moment⁴.

Between integrity and intellect, this suggests my God has access to all the knowledge in the universe and can apply this in a just and constructive manner.

Indestructibility – Fortunately, both of the words I considered, indestructibility and imperviousness, started with I so there wasn’t much need for debate or contemplation. Both words sort of imply another I word – immortal. Regardless, if God’s going to cut the mustard there really can’t be much potential for a takedown. Whatever form God ultimately takes, it can’t be one where sheer force, cunning or kryptonite can result in defeat. It’s sort of tough to argue you’re all-powerful if you can be beaten.

As we wander through the questions we’ve summoned for God, we’ll definitely find additional characteristics attributable to God. However, the three Ins for being God are essential to any self-respecting deity.

Conclusion:

You can’t be my God unless you have integrity, intellect and indestructibility. Whether this is the case for your God is for you to work out. However, given the carefully researched⁵ statistics in the table below, you may want to consider these factors as possibilities.

To suggest these characteristics complete the list would be selling God short. However, if you can’t show all three prerequisites on your resume, you’re not my God.

Question 2: Where is God?

Assuming we accept Earth is one minute speck in the universe(s), my God can’t be limited to terrestrial activities. If God’s completely focused on Earth, and the remainder of the universe is merely window dressing:

a) God’s planning skills leave a lot to be desired.

b) Let’s add unlimited budget to the Godly characteristics.

While no major religion appears to argue for an earthbound God, it is important to acknowledge the implications of a universal God. A God limited to Earth is:

1. Going to have a tough job maintaining connection with mankind as it explores the universe

2. Can’t really lay claim to omnipotence with any great confidence

My God will remain intimately connected to mankind throughout its history. In primitive times, Thor the God of Thunder or Neptune the Sea God, were valid explanations for, and ways to connect to, God. However, the existence and magnitude of our universe, and the high likelihood we’ll explore it at some stage in humanity’s future, demands a God able to stay connected with us wherever we go. This is not an example of God changing to suit our needs, but our understanding of God improving.

Given the need for omnipresence across the universe, the obvious next step is to ask How?

Scientists are still trying to understand where a large proportion of the universe’s matter is, and in what form. One theoretical material, often referred to as Dark Matter, has been posed as a possible explanation. Could this be God?

The good news is, it doesn’t matter⁶.

If God has to be omnipresent, the way this state is achieved is for God to know and us to find out. However, working within the confines of our incomplete knowledge, we can argue for God being physically or spiritually present.

To be physically present in every corner of the universe would imply God is the universe (i.e. every piece of matter is a part of God). This creates some fascinating questions:

a) Could this be the meaning of created in God’s image?

b) If there are more intellectually advanced beings in the universe, why would humans be favored by God?

c) If humans are the most advanced beings in the universe, what are our responsibilities?

d) If humans are the most advanced beings in the universe, couldn’t God have done a better job?

While the idea God is physically present in every corner of creation is an appealing one, and may actually be the case, I lean towards a spiritual presence as the driving force.

Whether you believe in the forces of evolution or some form of intelligent design, when we talk about what differentiates humanity from all other known living organisms, it is not our physical form or genetic code. There’s fairly good evidence to suggest we’re only a couple of mutations away from a completely different result.

Other living creatures show intellect and values, but humans appear to be the only ones to have articulated deeply contemplated treatises on justice, honor, love and other values. Obviously, our ability to live in a manner reflecting our values is one of the key themes underlying all of the major religions, and fundamental to a meaningful, satisfying life⁷.

Values, philosophies, intellect and beliefs are differentiators creating opportunities and responsibilities for humanity other organisms don’t enjoy. This higher-level thought allows those who believe in God to make a connection. It doesn’t matter which God you believe in or what religion you are affiliated with; assuming there is a God, we can connect to through prayer, mediation or scientific discovery, it happens on a non-physical level.

Even if God is present in all physical matter, the spiritual and intellectual element underpins our interaction with God.

Conclusion:

My God may exist in all matter but it is not a pre-requisite. In contrast, God must be omnipresent spiritually and intellectually, and able to communicate with me – even if it is only through the magnificence of the physical universe or personal relationships made through the intellect and values we’ve developed.

It would be great to be able to have a direct and open discussion with God but I don’t require it. A God playing in the spiritual/intellectual realm doesn’t need to talk directly to me – I can find out truths and sharpen my values and beliefs by interacting with others and using my⁸ brain power.

Question 3: How much power is enough?

You may have been wondering about all powerful or omnipotent as a qualifying criterion for being God. While I am tempted, it doesn’t start with I, precluding an inclusion conclusion.

Although you might believe leaving omnipotence off the list is merely a pathetic effort to add another question or create some gratuitous word plays, the truth is far deeper – I’m not convinced God has to be all-powerful to pull the gig off.

Let’s start with the implications of the two most commonly used phrases:

Omnipotence: Having infinite power

All powerful: Having all power or more powerful than all

Having infinite clout would certainly qualify you for at least a tie on our Most Powerful Being in the Universe competition and being all-powerful seems to trump all comers. However, if God does have one or both of these characteristics, there seems to have been some reticence to put this dominance to use.

If you believe God created the universe⁹ or just started the wheels of the process in motion, the implied level of power is pretty impressive. Admittedly after seven days work, and a little animosity with Adam and Eve, it appears the God of the Old Testament felt obliged to take several billion years off¹⁰. However, the point is not to question God’s work ethic but to accept God’s stitching the cosmos together would involve significant wattage.

If God didn’t create the universe, how much influence is required to qualify for the top job? As God has already been identified as indestructible, there’s really no argument for defensive power in the form of physical strength, and what action would merit physical force?

The answer may lie in comparing power in the physical and spiritual realms and addressing the influence of:

CAN’T vs. WON’T

In either sphere, muscle doesn’t have to be used to exist. For example, there are currently nine countries with a viable nuclear weapon and five nuclear weapons states. The sway conferred by this status doesn’t require gratuitous dropping of bombs to make the point – having the capability is enough.

Similarly, God could be all-powerful without controlling every event in the universe. However, if God does direct everything, there are some serious job performance issues to be addressed:

a) What’s with all these natural disasters, famines, plagues & general catastrophes?

b) How do criminals get away with anything?

c) Why isn’t there better surf in Colorado?

Conclusion

The existence of crime, disasters and the vagaries of our personal environments would strongly suggest a benevolent God does not control every happening in the universe. Whether this is due to a commitment to free will, the fight between good and evil, or a God who simply couldn’t be bothered, doesn’t really matter at this stage. The bottom line is that my God of integrity is clearly not interfering in every day to day activity in the cosmos.

If God doesn’t act in all aspects of the physical realm, it doesn’t rule out the